Also the region you are in and the church size. I think the average is.
$0-100 Beginner
$100-$350 Intermediate
$350-1000+ Advanced
I like this breakdown
The first concern is how much can your church afford
you dont want to burdern your church with too high of a music bill
although important it is best if you are a growing church to get a growing musician
if you are established and want to grow your ministry then you may pay a little more thenyou want to in hopes that the music will draw people in (the reality is that that is one of the purposes of the music ministry a call to the lost as well as edification of the people in the congregation)-
but to go further with this you also pay for versatility some musicains can play traditional really well but cant really make contemporary sound any more then a traditional song with some fred hammond lyrics over it
and some contemp musicians cant get old time church on a mother
-so you pay also for the diversity of the musician
can he read can he also play by ear
can he play latin blues funk east coast west cosast midwest does he make the music sound like the record or does every song sound the same
can he play organ and piano
can he play pipe
does he have his own board that he will bring to enhance the music
can he play in every key
can he play in more then one key
if he cant he may embarrass you when you go visit the church with just a piano and the debvotional leader who sings in the key of B
can he play worship music as well as devotional and praise
can he set the atmosphere
can he teach and train choirs
can he sing and lead a song
how is he with funerals
how is his walk with God
how is he with working with others
all of these things make for the consideration of a musician
the more he or she brings to the table the better
a musician who can usher in the spirit capture the vision of the pastor and overall do allthe above duties is worthy of his hire